E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSForget Prince Charming: You don’t need anyone but yourself to enjoy Valentine’s Day. Instead of some lame, torture chamber lingerie or yet another box of chocolates – which no one can ever finish – treat yourself to some fun, indulgent presents:
Bliss; Malin + Goetz; Fresh
Royal relaxation
Go all out on items you likely never splurge on: bath products. Set the mood with a mojito or rose-flavored candle by Malin + Goetz; they rely on essential oils to relieve stress and leave your home smelling like one of those fancy boutiques, the type that deny Julia Roberts the right to shop (Otto votive, $14, Malin + Goetz). Then pour Fresh’s luxurious Sake Bath, a long-lasting bottle that detoxifies skin with an intoxicating yet gentle, clean scent (Sake Bath, $80, Fresh). Lastly, treat your tootsies to some TLC, courtesy of lotion-packed socks that hydrate your feet with olive oil, grapeseed oil and vitamin E (Bliss Softening Socks, $52, Bliss).
Baublebar; Cynthia Rowley
Double-duty jewelry
Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but liquor is her trusty therapist. Finally, you can combine your love of bling and booze with Cynthia Rowleys’s silver flask bracelet, which lets you hide your liquid of choice in a chic, embellished must-have accessory (Flask bangle, $225, Cynthia Rowley). Prefer your alcohol in a cup? That’s cool. There are also amazing new items from Baublebar, who sell an impressive array of trendy, expensive-looking jewelry at an affordable price (Emerald Wilma Drops, $32, Baublebar.com).
NBCUniversal / Beecher's New York
Say cheese
Mac ‘n cheese is the ultimate comfort food – the type of heavenly bliss that Liz Lemon would break furniture for. Sure you can don a sexy dress and go out, but how much better does it sound to stay in, eating the cult favorite World’s Best Mac and Cheese and watching the adorably addictive "Mindy Project"? Order a deluxe frozen entree, fire up the oven and say hello to the perfect night (two pans of the World’s Best Mac and Cheese, $58, Beecher’s Handmade Cheese).
Aire Ancient Spa
Pamper yourself
A spa or salon visit is no-brainer, and these days, there’s no shortage of interesting treatments: New York’s gorgeous Aire Ancient Baths offers a red wine ritual in which you soak in a thermal tub full of the good stuff; Red Door Spas’ Rose Renewal exfoliates your skin with a petal-infused olive scrub (taking it from sandpaper to Bradley Cooper’s forehead), then hydrates it in essential rose oil; while Bliss Spa’s Rhythm & Bliss massage lets you tune out to one of four curated music mixes while you get a rubdown ($155, Bliss). Or heck, just go to Drybar – a blowout never disappoints.
Victoriassecret.com, jcpenney.com
Sleep on it
Beyonce’s husband bragged about his “cashmere sweats” in his 2009 track “Off That,” and while they sounded like a mythical, cozy unicorn, they do indeed exist. Add a touch of luxury to your comfort wear with tapered, chic cashmere bottoms, perfect for running errands or lounging on the couch (Modern Sweatpant, $59.50, Victoria’s Secret). Or channel your inner Hefner with an elegant cream silk robe, accented with delicate Downton Abbey-esque lace sleeves (Flora Charmeuse Robe, $35, JC Penney).
Getty Images; Etsy
Get artsy
“Mad Men” star Jon Hamm is so beautiful, he deserves to be captured in fine art. That’s why you can now pay homage to hunky Don Draper with a coloring book devoted to his hotness (Coloring book, $12, Etsy.com). Indulge your inner, innappropriate child.
Estee Lauder; Too Faced
Luxe up your looks
You know in old, classic movies when the leading lady touches up her makeup with a classy golden compact or glamorous lipstick tube? Meanwhile, the rest of us struggle with our plastic drugstore buys falling apart at the bottom of our messy purses? Boost up your beauty bag with a sleek, metallic tub of dramatic, velvety smooth lip color (La Crème, $21, Sephora or Too Faced) and a sophisticated translucent pressed powder (Estee Lauder Golden Alligator Compact, $39.50, Macy's) that’ll fool folks into thinking your way more together than you actually are.
FredFlare.com; CalNatural
Raise a glass
Who doesn’t love cuddling up with a glass of wine? That’s how some of us get through the day / night / every holiday. Order your favorite boxed wine, then toast to your fabulousness in this Kathie Lee and Hoda-approved oversize glass (XL wine glass, $14, Fred Flare; Cabernet, $7, CalNatural).
Three Jewels Retreat; Getty Images
Book a trip
Travel is the ultimate luxury, and booking a trip is the best way to reward yourself for all the hard work / bad weather you put up with. Learn a new skill and meet a treasure trove of good looking men (including buff instructors) at a surf camp, where you can indulge your inner Gidget in warm waters while getting into bikini-ready shape. (Witch’s Rock Surf Camp, Tamarindo, Costa Rica, $893 & up). Or make a few new BFFs with Three Jewel Retreats, luxury female-driven group trips specializing in surfing, yoga and siestas in Punta Mita, Mexico and Santa Teresa, Costa Rica (Three Jewels Retreats, $1690 & up).
Rina Raphael is a TODAY editor who wants to celebrate the most romantic of holidays by napping, and maybe buying herself an awesome Cynthia Rowley floral wetsuit.
More from TODAY:
8 tech gifts to keep Valentine romance hot
'Just us' wedding trend: Couples ditch the guests
Too stylish, too soon? Kid fashion blogs draw critics
Everett Collection
Rhett and Scarlett, Will and Kate, Bogart and Bergman, even Britney and Madonna – they all shared iconic lip-locks. Get in the mood for Valentine's Day with our colorful guide to classic kisses.
